For the Los Angeles Kings, the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs could be titled A Tale of Two Goalies.

And both are named Jonathan Quick.

Specifically, Good Jonathan versus Bad Jonathan.

And, right now, the return of Good Jonathan has given the Kings a 2-0 stranglehold in their best-of-seven series against the Anaheim Ducks heading into Game 3 on Thursday at the Staples Center.

That the Kings have rebounded from losing their first three playoff games this spring to reel off six consecutive victories can be reflected in Quick’s numbers.

In going down 3-0 in games to the San Jose Sharks in the first round, Quick was beaten 16 times on just 108 shots, resulting in a lofty 5.87 goals-against average.

Since that time, Quick has allowed just eight goals in 207 shots, which translates to a 1.28 GAA over that span. It’s no surprise that the Kings have not lost in that time.

It seems obvious that Quick has regained the form that made him the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP just two years ago. And that’s bad news for the Ducks, not to mention for the rest of the league.

BETTMAN UNPLUGGED

During an audience with reporters covering the Ducks-Kings series, commissioner Gary Bettman addressed a number of issues including the flourishing state of hockey in southern California ... “Think about the outdoor game at Dodger Stadium just a few months ago with over 50,000 people,” Bettman said. “Look at the fact that the Ducks involvement in high school hockey in six years has gone from one high school team competing to 35 I think this year. Look at the fact that there is a player on the Ducks roster (Emerson Etem) who was drafted in the first round from Long Beach, Calif. These are pretty heady, exciting, fun times and it’s great to see everybody excited about Stanley Cup playoff hockey here in Southern California” ... Asked about how many outdoor games there will be next season, Bettman was vague, indicating there will be less than six but more than one. There were a half dozen outdoor contests this past season, including games at Michigan Stadium, BC Place, Dodger Stadium, Soldier Field and two at Yankee Stadium ... Bettman’s reaction to the David Sterling incident, which saw the NBA ban the Clippers owner from the league for life: “We’re all about inclusiveness and diversity. And those sentiments that were expressed by Mr. Sterling have no place – not just in the NBA or in sports or in this world. Commissioner Silver stepped up and did what he had to do under the circumstances.”

CROSS CHECKS

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski definitely was a fan of the spectacular Habs pregame show at the Bell Centre Tuesday, easily the best in the entire NHL. As for the team that calls that building home? Judging by his tweet prior to faceoff of Game 3 Tuesday, notsomuch. Gronk’s tweet: “@RobGronkowski: Watching B’s take out Montreal tonite. Sweet intro so far!” ... Wonder what Kings forwards Jeff Carter and Mike Richards think of the Peter Laviolette hiring in Nashville. Both players fell out of favour with Laviolette in Philadelphia and were subsequently traded away despite helping Philly reach the final against the Blackhawks in 2010. Both player ended up winning a Stanley Cup in their first season in Los Angeles — Carter coming over from Columbus at the trade deadline. Now both players are gunning for their second title in three years ... According to the Star-Tribune in Minnesota, the twin cities could be getting an outdoor game as early as next season at Target Field, home of major league baseball’s Twins. The Wild are said to covet the Blackhawks as the opponent, a logical choice given how the rivalry is starting to build after playoff matchups in two consecutive postseasons including this one. But the report indicates the NHL is pushing the Dallas Stars, who relocated from Minnesota prior to the 1993-94 season. If it ends up being Dallas, is there any chance they could bring in former Minnesota North Stars goalie Cesare Maniago, now 75, to drop the ceremonial opening faceoff puck? That’s who we’d like to see at least. All hail Cesare.

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

While much has been made about the way the Sharks and the Ducks have been targeting stud Kings defenceman Drew Doughty through the first two series, Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter doesn’t feel it’s a big deal. And why would he? After all, those are the exact tactics Sutter himself would use if he was coaching against Doughty. “I think that’s pretty normal,” Sutter told reporters in Los Angeles on Tuesday about opposing teams going after Doughty. “Quite honest, the question wouldn’t even be being asked if Drew wouldn’t have been hurt late in the season (with an unconfirmed shoulder injury), and if he wouldn’t have gotten whacked on the knee (Monday night) and left the ice. Otherwise, nobody would’ve even noticed. It’s pretty normal for top players at playoff time to be shadowed.” Maybe Doughty should just skate out for Game 3 with a bullseye logo on the front of his jersey.